Charging coke ovens



Aug. H4, 3945. c. OTTO CHARGING COKE OVENS Filed May 19. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A@ Ms ma c. OTTO CHARGING COKE OVENS Filed May 19, 419:12

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CARL 0170 n' l ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1945 HARGING COKE ovENs Carl Otto, Manhasset, N. Y., assignor to Fuel" Reining Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 19, 1942, serial No. 443,590

(c1. 2oz- 262) 4 Claims.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of, and improved means for charging comminuted coalto be coked into the deep, narrow, horizontally' elongated retorts or coking chambers of the general type now employed in the manufacture of cokesuit-l able'for metallurgical use. Each such oven is customarily provided with a plurality of roof openings, or charging holes, distributed along the length of the retort and through which the' coal to be coked is allowed to fall in the oven charging operation.

Modern coke ovens or retorts of the above mentioned type customarily have a depth varying from about to 15 feet and have a roof thickness of the order of three feet. Furthermore, the coal customarily acquires appreciable down velocity before it enters the upper end of the charging hole. In consequence, the mass of coal within the oven chamber and constituting the charge to be coked, is compacted and has its density increased by the impact of the falling coal against the surface of the charge which is being formed. The increase in density of the charge due to the impact of the falling coal particles which becomes a part of the charge, is highly objectionable under some conditions. n I have found that the increase in the density ofv the coal charged thus produced, is especially objectionable in the carbonization of. low volatile, expanding coals, and'my present invention in its more limited aspects constitutes an improved method of, and improved apparatus for coking such coals. As explained in my copending application-Serial No. 433,119, filed March 3, 1942, in coking low volatile, expanding coal, the tendency of the coal charge to expand suiiciently to cause distortion of the Walls of the chamber in which the mass is coked may be substantially eliminated byA so formingthe coal charge as to increaseits aggregate void space so that its coal content per cubic foot will not weigh more than about 42 pounds.

In my above mentioned patent application l have disclosed a special method of preparing low volatile, expanding coal for coking, which consists in adding suiicient Water to the c'omminuted coal to make the latter crumbly and then stirring or otherwise aggregatingthe crumbly coal mass to increase the aggregate void space in the mass, so that the weight per cubic foot of the coal in the charge will not exceed the desired amount. When the density of the coal charge is thus reduced, the tendency to objectionable expansion of the charge in thetcoking operation, and the resultant distortion of the coking chamberwalls is substantially eliminated. v y

When the crumbly coal prepared in. accordance with the method of my prior applicationis allowed to fall freely through-.the charging holes-inthe roof of a deep coking chamber, the impact of the crumbly coal aggregates againstthe charge building up in thelower -portion ofthe oven', tends to diminishv the yaggregate void space .in the charge and thus neutralize -the advantageous eiect of the special treatment previously` given the coal to increase its aggregate Void space.

A specific object of the present invention is to prevent or minimize the tendency to` an `increase in the density of the charge formed in a coking chamber having charging holes in its roof, .by retarding the velocity of the coal falling. into-the chamber through said holes. By suitably. retarding the velocity of the falling coal, I ameable to obtain substantially full advantage ofthe method disclosed in my abovementioned application for increasing the aggregate voidy space in the charge, and in some cases I am able Ato obtainy a `suitably high aggregate void vspace in a chargeof comminuted 10W volatile, expanding-coal Whichffis substantially dry and contains much less lmoisture than is required to-give the coalthe crumbly characteristics contemplated in my prior Vapplication. The present'invention compriseszmeans which may take various forms, for `keepingthe velocity of the coal suitably 10W asit' moves by gravitational action down into a coking chamber, through the charging holes in-its roof.

The various features of novelty which char`=- acterize my invention are pointed outvvithfparticularity inthe claims annexed tofandhforming a part of this specication. `Fora bettertunderstanding of the invention, khowevenits advantages, and specic objects attained'with its use; reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter-inwhich Il have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. v f: i

Of the drawings: f l Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic-elevation of a coal charging lorry .and 'a portion of av-sub-y jacent coking oven battery shown in-transverse section; y i f Fig. 2 is a View taken similarly to Fig. 1,; butfo'n a larger scale and showing a portion onlyiof the apparatus shown'in Fig. 1; l'

Fig. 3 is a lsection on the line 3 3 ofFig- 2; Fig. '4 is an elevation of a modied for'm'of retarder; Y i

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through a third form of retarder;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken similarly.

battery structure are the usual lorry car Vtrack *Y rails C' extending longitudinally of the battery and engaged by the flanged Wheels C2 of the lorry car C. The latter comprises as many hop-4 pers D, usually about four, as there are charging holes B' in the roof of each channel B. The lower,-y

portion of the hopper D shown. diminishes in cross section, as it approaches the battery roof, and its lower end terminates in an outlet D'.

For the purposesV of the present invention the lorry preferably includes a discharger of feeder E associated with each hopper D to move coal laterally from the outlet D into a corresponding stand pipe F included in the lorry structure and having its lower' end above and in register with the correspondingcharging hole B inthe oven charging operation. Thefdischarger E shown is of the vibratory type and form disclosed and claimed in my copending vibratory motor application Serial No. 367,349, filed November 2'7, 1940, and comprises a discharger trough E slightly inclined to the horizontal with its open discharge end E2 lower than its closed end E3. As shown the discharger E -is resiliently suspended from the hopper D through'suspension elements E4, each of which includes a tension link E5, and includes a power or motor element E comprising a plurality of stiff metal springs or vibrator bars Ee clamped at their ends in the frame of the element, and having their central portions connected through a suitable yoke or clamp structure to an armature E". The latter is attracted, and the spring' bars E are thereby deected, by the energization of an electro-magnet E8. The energizing current for each electro-magnet may be an alternating current, or it may be a pulsating current comprising alternating current and direct current components. In generaL'the discharger vibration frequency will be double the alternating current frequency if the magnet E8 is energizedl by alternating current, and will be the same as the alternatingcurrent frequency if the magnet E11 is energized by a pulsating or mixed current comprising Tooth alternating and direct current constituents. The veffective discharge capacity of the vibrator may be varied by varying the strength of the current energizing its magnet.

The open discharge end E12-of the discharge trough E1 extends into a stand pipe F through an opening F in the wall of the latter and the stand pipe F serves as a means for guiding the coal discharged from the trough into the charging opening, and as a smoke pipe for carrying the distillation and burning gases issuing from the charging holes during the charging` operation, to a-level well above the top of the battery. As. shown, the stand pipe F also serves as a housing for a coal retarding element which in accordance with the present invention extends into the oven chamber B through the charging hole B' during the charging operation and may `larly vertically displaced Ibafiles G2.

take various forms. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the retarding element G comprises two vertical bar-like body portions displaced from one another in the direction of the length of the oven chamber and connected by a set of integral inclined bales G1 at the side of the retarder adjacent the discharger E, and a second set of inclined baflles G2 at thelopposite side` of the retarder. The `baffles G1 ywhich are'spaced apart vertically, are in staggered relation with the simi- Each of the baffles G1 and G2 is inclined to direct `coal falling on it away from the side of the retarder at which itis located and toward the side of the retarder vat'which the other set of the bafllesv is located.

. ticallyby-.a suitable suspension mechanism which in the form shown, comprises a cable H running overguide pulleys -H1 Aat the `top'of' the lorry and havingv one depending end attached to 'a connector p'artG3 of the retarderG. The'other end of `the -calble'H is'connected' to the winding? drum of a motor actuated winch H2, mounted on the In the preferred. mode of usingapparatu's ofthe type shown inFigsLZ" and Bin-charging a coke ovenchamber in-accordance with-the'present invention; coal is simultaneously. fed fatsuitable relative rates throughlthe 'diiferent oven charging holes B' in the roof of the ovenl chamber 'which usually 'has not less than three and fnot more than five such holes suitably distributed along its length. lPreparatory totheinitial discharge of coal.v into van `oven, chamber through each charging hole, the corresponding retarder G is lowered intotheholeuntilits lower endis in suitable proximity to theretort floor, andas the charging operationproceeds theretarding device is progressively raised.` In some cases the bottom of each retarder may bezkept above the top surface oftheA chargebeing formedzthroughout the charging operation. VInother cases, however, the retarder may ,be kept in .the charge throughout the major portion ,ofthe charging;v operation. In such case, when the retarder. is eventually raised, its movementvthroughthe charge has acertain charge. leveling effectland minimizes the tendency of `the portionofv the charge Ydirectly beneath the corresponding charginglholeB to be more denselycompacted than are the portions of the charge further away from the axisof that charging hole.

Aetna en@ of, or during the final portion or the charging operation, then retarder Gf isy 'raisei, to lift its lowerend out of the charging'hole B and the lovenroof`"structurelA y As vwill be 'appare with the retarder yshaped andfproportionedas shown in Figs.' 1, 2 and 3, practically every 'particle of icoal passing 4down into the oven chamberwill inipnge `against one at least of the'bailles G1: 'and G2 which is at a level somewhat? below the` roof of the -oven chamber, and some of the coal particleswill"successively engage a plurality of saidbales at' "successively lower levels. The eifect of` each suchlengagement'ofa vcoal particle'. with va lbarile G1 for TG2 is to sharply. reduce the'v vertical yvelocity of the particle. Apparatus of the type and form shown in Figs. 1,'2 arid 3 is thus' adapted rto substantially reduce the-tendency ofthe coalfalling on the `top surface of the charge being'formed to increase the densityof thecharge by impact action. f .w v i Off y In Eig. 4,1.have illustrated ra- -modied .form .of

G' terminating at its v upper end 'in an eye f G6' for engagement by the cable-l I-I, andi baffle arms Grt f extending' away'from the' central'v shaft portion ofi theretarder at different levels and retardin'g the" down falling coal in the Ysame manner asdo'f -thej-baftles G1 and G2 'oi-"the retarder G.-- As shownyeacharm G7 is inclined -upwardly'away from the horizontalvl andputwardly vawayY from'v the shaft portion of-'the retarder; Furthermore,

each bafile= GY* preferably increases in width as its distance from the central portion of the retarder increases and has its upper surface in skew relation 'to the retarder shaft portion G5 so as to'minimizethetendency of 'coal fallingy on the baille to lodge andbe retained thereon;- Thel upper surface of eachbale arm'fG'7 may well be" a portion?4 of a'"'surface extending helically about the shaft portion G5. A

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated another form of retarder comprising a series of generally similar telescopic sections GB, GC and GD. As shown each of said sections is a cut away tubula-r part having an inclined bottom baffle G at one side and an oppositely inclined bale G11 at its opposite side and at a higher level. The section GB carries a pin G12 working in a vertical slot G1:i in the peripheral wall of the member GC to limit the relative movement of the two sections in the direction to elongate the retarder. The members GC and GD have a similar pin and slot connection. As shown, the inner element GB is provided with an out turned portion G15 at its upper end which is adapted to engage a shoulder portion F5 of the corresponding stand pipe F'A and thereby limit the down movement of the section GB. The lower section GD is shown as formed with a, transverse bar portion G1s extending diametrally across the hollow interior of said section to which the cable H or other suspension device is attached. The other sections GB and GC are formed with vertically extending slots G1I each open at its lower end and each receiving the transverse bar G16 when the retarder sections GB, GC and GD are nested together to give the retarder its minimum length as shown in Fig. 7.

Such retarding elements as are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings are capable of effecting a reduction in the velocity of impact of the charge forming coal particles against the top surface of the charge being formed. and of thereby materially reducingv the density of the charge formed. The density decreasing effect of such retarding means is especially important in charging oven chambers with coal in the form of crumbly aggregates produced when low volatile, expanding coal 'is prepared for charging in accordance with the method disclosed in my above mentioned copending application Serial No. 433,119.

In preparing low volatile, expanding coal for coking in accordance with the method of the last mentioned application, the coal is subdivide/i to such iineness that all of it will pass through a No. 7 (micron 2830) screen, and 80% of it will pass through a No. 10 (2000 micron) screen, and at least 40% of it will pass through a No. 40 420 micron) screen. The amount of water in the wet coal mass needed to give the latter its characteristic crumbly condition, increases with. the neness of the coal, and its weight may vary between 8 to 20% of the weight of the coal.

useclfjtforfexanipl'e soap may-'be addedi tov the waterfor use be' made ofn some commercial wetting agent now on the market, such as Wet'anolLlThefcoal may bev givenv the desired water contentduring or preparatory to the'nal s'ubdivisionefof fthe"coal.Ir When the finalxsubdivisionot the" coal .is eiected'iir'i a hammerv mill, the' -lattersubjects l'the coal` tof the stirring action or agitationne'cessary to make the aggregate Vair andwater/llld spacsfbetween the-coal particles'twentyper centfor sogreater-thanI the agg-regatefair flled' void spaces in an equal volumeI of dry coal of the same compositionand nen'ess. In ordinaryhpractice-.theweight of the coalin the 'xivetfcoa'lv mass 'chargein the oven chamber shouldbe' about forty-two pounds-per cubic foot.

Lowf-volatilegfl expanding fcoal' prepared for cokinginf'the-mannerl described may be coked in` ovens of standard type used in the manufacture of metallurgical coke and operated within the temperature and coking time ranges customarily employed in the production of metallurgical coke by so-called high temperature carbonization of ordinary good coking coal having a substantially higher volatile content. Expanding low volatile coal prepared as described and charged into coking chambers in accordance with the present invention and coked in the manner customary in the productionof metallurgical coke, does not subject the walls of the coking chamber in which it is coked to objectionable stresses.

The :co-king characteristics of coal prepared for aching in the manner above described and the strength of the coke produced, may advantageously be improved in some cases by adding to the coal from two to ve percent by weight of nely subdivided coke or coke breeze, and further improvement in the coke produced may be obtained in some cases by adding to the above described coal and coke mixture an amount of nely, subdivided pitch equal in weight to about ve or six per cent of the weight of the coke in the mixture. When coke and pitch are thus added to the coal, the coke may be initially mixed with the pitch and the mixture may then be heated .to more or less completely melt the pitch and thereby agglomerate the mixture, after which the agglomerated mixture may then be ground to such neness that all. or practically all of it will pass a No. 40 (420 micron) screen.

When coal thus prepared for charging in accordance with the method of my copending application, is charged into a coking chamber in the usual manner, the aggregate or agglomerated masses of crumbly coal having an average size much greater than the average size of the individual coal particles, impact against'the previously formed portion of the charge, with the undesirable result of eliminating an appreciable portion of the aggregate void space in the charge which may be obtained by retarding the falling movements of the crumbly coal aggregates into the oven chamber, in accordance with the present invention. v

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best l facilitate the thorouglrwettingofsthe coal# some suitable wetting material or agent may be tagewithout a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I cla-im as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for charging coal into a coking chamber through an opening in the top wall of the latter, comprising means for passing a stream of coal downward through said opening, coal retarding means extending through said opening into position to be engaged by and-thereby decrease the downflow velocityv of, the coal falling through said opening, and means for raising said retardng means as the depth vof the charge of coal being formed increases.

2. A coal lorry for charging horizontal coke oven battery coking chambers each formed with one or more top charging holes, comprising in combination a. discharge spout adapted to register with a corresponding charging hole, a coal 20 hopper laterally displaced-from said spout',I for moving coal from said hopper into'lsaidspout and a retarding element mounted on said lorry ow velocity of the coal-falling into the chamber through said top charging holen 3. A coal lorry combination las specined in claim 2, in which said retarding. element com-- prises oppositely inclined baiilesy at diierent levels. y f

4. A coal lorry lcombination as rspeciedfin claim 2 in which said retarding element comprises sections telescopically adjustable to vary^ the length of said element.

lCRLV op .i 

